Status of Independent Foreclosure Review Payments

WASHINGTON—The second wave of 1.4 million checks totaling $1.2 billion was sent today to borrowers eligible for payments under the Independent Foreclosure Review Payment Agreement, bringing the total number of checks sent to date to 2.8 million worth $2.4 billion.

As of the close of business Thursday (April 18), 434,484 checks totaling nearly $419 million were cashed or deposited.

The payments result from agreements between the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board, and 13 servicers to provide $3.6 billion in payments to borrowers whose homes were in any stage of the foreclosure process in 2009 or 2010 and whose mortgages were serviced by one of the following companies, their affiliates, or subsidiaries: Aurora, Bank of America, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, MetLife Bank, Morgan Stanley, PNC, Sovereign, SunTrust, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo.

The first wave of checks was sent April 12. More than 90 percent of the total 4.2 million checks totaling $3.6 billion will be sent by the end of April. The remaining checks that require additional borrower information will be sent in mid-summer.

Notice to Financial InstitutionsInstitutions processing checks are reminded that to help prevent fraud, checks require positive identification. Banks and other financial institutions should follow the instructions provided on the back of the check to validate authenticity.

Regulators have issued guidance to the servicers under foreclosure-related enforcement actions directing a review before foreclosure sales for all pending foreclosures. These reviews help prevent avoidable foreclosures by ensuring foreclosure-prevention alternatives are considered and foreclosure standards are met. Regulators encourage borrowers needing foreclosure prevention assistance to work directly with their servicer or contact the Homeowner's HOPE Hotline at 888-995-HOPE (4673) (or at www.makinghomeaffordable.gov) to be put in touch with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved nonprofit organization that can provide free assistance.